Automatic-playing piano.



L. M. FRENCH & M. OBRIEN;

B SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING PIANO. I APPLIUATIOR rum) nov. 11, 1907,

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@ (YWM L. M. FRENCH & W. M. O'BRIEN.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING PIANO.

' APPLICATION nun 3011.11, 1907. 93 1,1 92. Patented Aug. 17, 1909. I a snzmwaannm z.

jg; 3! l6 T 74 l r t I 7 3 9/ 70/ 30 L. M. FRENCH & W. M. OBRIEN.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.11, 1907 Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

B SHEETS-SHEET 3.

R MMI/ gvv w xm L. M. FRENCH & W. M. OBRIEN.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.11, 1907.

931,192. Patented Aug. 17,1909. 8 SHEETs-SHEET 4.

Fig. 7: 47

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TQMATIG PLAYING PIANO. ABELIOATIQN mum NOV. 11, 1907.

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8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

L. M FRENCH & W. M. O'BRIEN. AUTOMATIG ELAYING PIANO.

APPLIOATIOH FILED 1. 03511, 997! 931,192.

I merge/z fatented Aug. 17, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

L. M. FRENCH & W. M. OBRIEK AUTOMATIC PLAYW 'PiAno. APPLmAHGN FILED NOV. 11, 1907.

Patentd A'ilg". 1?, 1909.

L. M. FRENCH & W. M. OBRTEER AUTOMATIC PLAYING PIANO. APPLIU ATIQH FILED NOV. 11, 1907.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

SSHHIITS-SHEET 8 instruments such roll mocha-n ism, I pneumoti c of the prior art,

EL-LALi AUTGMATIC-ZLAYING PEAUG.

Application files. Ito-camber 11, 1907.

To all whom t'z' mag concern.

Be it known that we, LAMARTENE M. FRENCH and WILLIAM GBRIEN, citizens of the United States, resii'ling at Chicago,

the county of Cool; and State of I vc invented it certain and useful improvement in Amtomotic-Plsying Pianos, ofwhich the following is aLfull, clear, concise, and ectilescription, reference lacing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this spcci'ficationp l A r invention relates to automatic playing as piano mod centers.- plates improved features oi arrangement, construction and operetion. The automatic ploying outfits for pianos usually comprise tracker-boars and music a driving motor therefor, action mechanism, feeder hollows and regulating bellows mechanisms, pedal mechanism attachments and controlling lever mechanism. Herctofore in instrw merits 01 this class these vnriouspartshave been contained within the piano casing, and it has been wry (liilicult to arrange the v9. rious parts in such a manner that the normal opemtion ol the piano will not be interfered with anal that the piano ports are entirely l'rce and accessible l'or inspection and repairs, particularly in regulating the notion and tuning; oi the piano. In some instruments provision is made for rcmoving some of the autonietic playing parts to allow access to the piano parts, hut with this zn'rzmggcnicnt the adjustment of the automatic gnu-ts is very opt to be disturbed as the parts are removed by a piano man, who is not always an expert so for as thermiomotio playing niechmiism is con :crnetl. The main purpose of our invention, therefore, is to simplify the ports, to condense and combine some of them and to arrange the majority of them outside 01- the piano casing. In accordance with our invention, the

} pneumatic action mechanisms are the only mechanism inside of the casing and ill-cs are placed in the most out-oi the vay place,

iunely, just above the rear end of the livys anal in front of the obstruct iOtlS ol' the piano. The tinckcr-hosrd and roller mechanism inlil the motor, which heretofore were separate structures, we combine into a sin 'le structure, the tracker-board, music rolls, and the motor parts being all contained in a. single from; or housing;- which is detachable when the eutonmtic lecture is not to he used and lpecificstion of Letters Fatent.

l I l l l l l l l l I 1 our invention Figure 1 Serial No. 453,537:-

is adapted t be on the nmsicl zlge 0r shelf of the piano when the automatic feature ito he used, rw istoring pneumatic cosmetics bei g provided. The lecrl holows mecheinsm is ar anged loelo the key bed at the outside or" the piano casing and is thereto. The sctuo' n the base ol the piano to be swung elow the piano when not in and to s forwardly to be 41011116 826." with the feed bellows mechanism when the autoinstic feature is to he USE-(l. he actulovers for these various per-ts are arranged above the key but below the keys, in an entirely out of way place and erenormall i concealed, pressure on trigger cans ing the lovers to be thrown forwardly into .a position for use. 'lhus all the piano pacts heinseives are at Et-ll times accessible, the only part of the automatic system to removed being the housing containing tracker-board music rolls and the motes parts, but provision is infill so that this iron e will he brought into 1 feet registration with the other parts when set in its-lies ignated position on the nmsic ledge. There is thus no (longer whatever that any of the ss. Y securely estscnec, nodes are pivoted pneumatic parts will become deranged.

in the various drawings which illnstrste is a. front View of the housing containing rolls and motor ports; view taken on line 2 --2 of Fig. scctionsl view taken on line 3--3 of ig. 1 Fig". 4 is a sectional view token on line i e.- of l ig. 1; Fig. 5 is n detached sectional View showing the reversing arrangementfor the music rolls; Fig. 6 is a plan View of the pnourustic tub-e strip secured to the base of the housing shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 7 is it lttll View of the port of the music lcilgo or shelf on which the music roll motor cabinet housing is placed and shows the nneunmtic tuheopenings which register wit 1 the openings shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is {L dingrzunmstic pcrspootivc View of 2L. piano casing, the playing zit-- tztchment being; removed: Fig. 9 is the same view as Fig. 8, shmxing the attachment .RUIF' plied; Fig. H) shows one of the pncrunatimtcrminsls for conmw-ting the trucker-hoard tubes with the pneumatic action inc-chainisms; Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lino li -11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is 9. front View partlybroken sway and partly in section showing the main valve or cut-oilihox and the feeder and o sectional 2w i su mortino' tubes for the pneumatic actions; partly broken. away and artl T in section of the valve box and contro ing' ellows for the motor; Fig. 1 1 is a sectional view taken on line i l-14 of Fig. Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view through the piano key bed,'

lower panels and base, showing a side view of one o; the feeder bellows mechanisms and one oi uhe actuating pedals connected therewith; Fig. 16 is a front view of the lower part of the piano showing the pedal arrangement; Fig. 17 is a plan view of a pedal; Fig. 18 is 'a plan view of a section of the key bed, showing the arrangement of the actuating lever mech anism and the manner of concealing said mechanism Fig. 19 is a sectional View taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a view talren on plane 19-19 of Fig. 18, but showing the lever mechanism drawn in and concealed Fig. 21 shows more in detail the catch mechanism for locking the pedals.

The housing or cabinet for containing the trackenh- 1rd, music rolls and motor mechanism comprises the base 1, the top 2, rear wall 3 aiid outer side walls 4 and 5, the front of the cabinet being open. lhrough the along the rear are a plurality of openings 6, of a number equal to the pneumatic actions of which there usually are as many as there are piano keys. Secured to the under ide of the base is a board or plate 7, having he openings 8, which register with the openings 6. Inner side walls '9 and are also provn ed in the cabinet, and bridging these v ails at the front is the tracker-board frame 11 having passageways 12 therethrough, cor responding in number to the channels 6 and 8. Secured to the front of the trackerhoard frame is the tracker-board plate 13 having the openings 14 arranged in a horizontal line, each one of said openings being connected with one of the channels 12. The channels 12 are connected-with thecorr sponding channels 6 and 8 through tubes 15 in any well known manner, these tubes being supported on a table or shelf 16 extending forwardly from the protecting vertical wall 17 at the rear of the-cabinet. Pivoted between the walls 9 and 10 below the trackerhoard frame is the takeup spool 18 having at its right end the driving gear 19. In the wall .9, above the tracker-board socket, is supported a pivot frame 20, and directly opposits in the wall 10 is pivoted a driving chucliZl and driving shaft 22. A shaft 23 having horizontal hearings in the walls 10 and 5 carries the pinion 24 adapted for separable engagement with gear 19 upon actuation of clutch and lever mechanism .25, whose detailed construction it is not necessary to disclose here. Shafts 23 and 22 are suitably connected through the chain gearing mechanism 26, and shaft 23 is connected through chain gearing mechanism 27 with a crank shaft 28 journaled in the side walls 9 and 10 13 i front view at the top of the cabinet. bpools such 29 are adapted for engagement between the pivot and chuck 21, and carry the music sheet. Upon rotation of the crank shaft-end by adj ustmcnt of the clutch lever either the take .up roller may be driven to unwind the music sheet, or the music roller driven to rewind the music sheet. The bellows 30 for drived with the angularly displaced cranks 31 of the crank shaft through connecting rods ,2.

In the music ledge or shell -27 of the pi no there is cut a groove or slot 48 in the lower half of which is inserted. a plate 49 having the channels 50 spaced to re tel with the channels 8 in the plate '7 secured to the cabinet and having also the hole 51 through it for registering with the hole 3? through the plate 7, which hole '37 is connected through tube with the exhaust chamber of the motor. The cabinet when applied rests on the music ledge with the plate 7 filling the upper half of the slot 48, and the tracker-board and motor operating parts are in periect'register-with the various passageways which are connected with the era liaust producing parts and key actuating parts of the pneumatic system. To nialae more air tight connection, the top'oi the plate 49 and bottom of plate 7 may be faced with sheepskin. When it not desired to use the automatic feature, the cabinet can easily be lifted from the music i and. there is no danger of the incl-seed Pk. coining deranged, as they are well protector by the various walls of the cabinet. sides of the plate 7 and or" the groove 43 will in most cases oll'er suilicient guidin mean. to insure perfect registration, but additional guide pins or like means 52 may be provided, carried either by the plate 7 or base 1, for engaging in openings 53 arrangei'l either in the plate 49 or music ledge, or both.

Secured at their rear end and along t part of the wind chest to the under si:

thereof are two feeder bellows 58, only ti o right one being shown, both right and left bellows, however, being identical in construction and arrangement. The movable lower wall 59 of each bellows is pivoted to a lever 60 whose rear end is pivoted to an arm 61 extending downwardly from the chest frame. A spring 62 inserted between the lever 60 and wind chest tends to normally hold the bellows in a collapsed condition. A rod 63 is employed for connecting the front end of the lever so with a "at 54 extending from the corresponding pedal 'ont in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, the wind devices of the piano having opening 5. cut in its top.

ing the crank shaft are shown as secured to the rear wall of the cabinet, and are oonnectwind . connection.

the rod having ed nsteble connection with the lever in the various pivotal holes 66. A passageway 67 connects the bellows with the exhaust chamber. A port 68 through controlled by a lisp the oi the bellows is valve 69, which has plenty of action space between the hey bed and the bellows base. The flop valve lyin time on top in a hori- Zontel position, causes more ellicient operation of the bellows. If the lisp valve were suspended or in e Vertical position, it would tend to hang away from the port and there would consequently be considerable leakage and slower response of the bOllONS. The valve is also thoroughly protected it is practically incloscd by t 1e bellows hose and the key bed. Upon operation of the perhtls, the bellows ere'eltcrnetivcl Y distended to exhaust air from th wind chest 55, :is is'wcll understood. Each pedal is pivotedv at one end of e frame 70 lnlving a pocket 71 lor re ceiving the gvedel its other on ngeged by e. rod 63.

when not in use. From A lug 73 extends from the inner rear corner ol each pedal frame and is pivoted to it companion lug secured to the piano base, as shown. The pedal frames rest on the floor and nor-molly ere swung on the lugs 73 end 74 underneetl'i the piano. billion the pedals arc to be used, the pcdltl frames are swung'outwardly to the position shown and the pedals connected to the rods 63. At the side of each redid frame there is also a. spring" catch her 75, which engages against the lower edge of n. detcnt 70 secured underneath the piano when the pedal frames are being swung out to operative position. When the i i-mines roach operative position, the catch bets spring up and their ends en U gage against the front of the dctcnts so that the pedal ironies locked in their out posito hold the pedols in proper :umeinent. 'i Yhen the 1pedal frames are to be swung: buck tmdicrncet i the pinno the spring catch bars are depressed to. carry their ends below the detents in Fig. 2 and 10 to 14, the arrangement of the pneumatic octi mechanism is plainly shown. The action mechanisms are all erthe rear half the space between the ledge and key bed of the piano above the rear ends of keys l"- end in front oi lowerot' the piztno obs-tract rods with. which they are adapted for direct Vi e arrange the pncun'lotic no. tions T5 a plurality of horizontal rows, each, row supported from s comnnin literate 28 extending l'LOl'lZHllE-ll'ff across the piano. Each firemeforms a low pressure compartment 3'9 and he ironies lire preferably in. the-form ofi metallic tubes of rectsneross-section, shown, which renders them Very strong end durable. ri e have shown four of these tubes from which the pneumatic nations extend, and brackets secured to the tubes carry at the front of their horizontal arms the plate 49, which enin the slot when the parts are as sernoled. The action mechanism structures are rectangular, each being built up of sec tions and blocks of wood. Each action structure has a. valve chamber 81 connected normally through opening with strnosphcre and adapted for connection through port 83 with the upper diaphragm chamber which is separated from the lower dieph egin chamber 85 by a. diaphragm 86 which carries the Volvo-button 8?, this valve button normally closing the port 8 3, its shown. A channel 88 connects the valve chamber with the bellows fl?) at the lower side of the structure, while clnnmels 0 register with openings 91 through the supporting tube when the action structure is secured thereto. A channel 92 leads from the lower diaphragm chamber and registers with an opening 93 through the rear well of the supextends the pivot 64, which. is

port tube. Vfood screws are inserted through the tubes lroni-tl front, and enthe action structure to hold said struc ture sccurely' against the rear face of the tubes. In Fig. 10, we have shown one of the pneumatic terminals for ings and plate 49 with thus with the lower diaphragm chamber. Each terminal comprises a small tube 95 adapted for insertion through one of the openings 96 in the front wall of the tube and one of the registering openings 93 to the reer well of the tube, which registers with the channel 92. The tube 95 extends into e head 97 from w nch extends ejstu'b pipe Tubes 99 engage at one end with these stub pipes 98 and at their other ends have en ge gement with the channels 50 in the plate ll). In each tube 95 there is also n blood: or equalizing opening" llll), which connnuhh cetos with the interior of the low pressure chamber tube when the terminal is inserted. These terminals can be readily withdrawn. These Various su niorting tubes are connected with the wind chest in a manner shown later. The pressure in the diaphragm chainbers 84 and 85 nornnilly eqiutlized, the upper diaphragm chamber "being connected. with the exhaust chamber tube through pas segg cwziy 3t, and the lower diz'tphregm Gll-LI11- )er connected therewith through passageway 92, pipe 9:3 and equalizing opening or blood 100, the pcllows 8f) being norinellv connected through channel 88 and port with atmosphere and consequently distended; tinclierdioerd end 8, perforation comes in register with the trocltcr-lz-ozml opening, there will be an impulse ol ntniospln-aric .tll from the corresponding connecting tubes and this impulse findingits not into the lower idntphrztgin chamber cguising the (ll8.'hlu-.g

connecting the openthe channel 92, and

ill-O to be thrown u wardly, whereby the valve button closes t e connection of bellows S9 with the atmosphere and connects said bollows to the low pressure tube thrmigh passageway 88, valve chamber 81, port 33 and passageway 90, the bellows collapsing. There is an extension 101 at the end of the movable part of each bellows, above which greater bellows capacity and more powerfulction. The equa izingor bleed opening 100 is so small that there will be practically no leakage of atmospheric air into the exhaust tube chamber. However, minute particles of paper and dust are apt to pass through the connecting tubes and lodge in the equalizing openings, tending to choke them up. The terminal pipes-however, can be readily withdraw. from. the supporting tubes by pulling the heads-97, and by blowing into the end thereof these minute openings can quickly be cleaned and the proper adjustment reestablished.

As the abstract rods are placed in a vertical plane and side by side, the action structures in the different rows must be staggered in order to bring the extensions 101 into register with the abutments 102 on the abstr ct rods.

.e tubes 7 3 at their left end are connect ed with the main valve box, through which their connection with the wind chest is controlled. This arrangement is best shown in i 12. This valve box has partitions 105 and 106 to divide it into a main chamber 107 and motor supply chamber 108 and the tube supply chamber 109. A Iport 110 through partition 105 is normally closed by the valve 111, while the port 112 through the artition 1 06 is normally open but adapted to e closed by valve 113. These valves are connected by a link 114 which may be actuated from the outside by means of a crank lever 115 pivoted in the wall of the valve box and havmo connection with a rod 116 connected with controlling lever mechanisms which we will describe later. The various sup orting pipes 78 communicate with the chamber 109 and a pipe 117 connects chamber 108 with the pipe or tube 118 leading to the hole 51 through the music ledge 17, which hole, as before described, re isters with hole 37 connectod with the exhaust chamber for the motor bellows. The pipes 78 are secured at their right ends to a motor valve box 119 and one of tn e pipes 78 connects the chamber 109 supporting tubes 78.

open port 1 10.

ment within this motor valve box is best shown in Figs. 13 and'14. Two vertical partitions 120 and 121 and a horizontal partition 122 between the partition 121 and the wall 01' the box divide the valve box into com partments 123, 124, 125 and 126. Compartment 126 connects through pipe 127 with pipe 118 leading to the motor. Compartment 123 connects through. passageuay 12Swith the re ulating bellows 129 mounted on top of the va ve box. Compartments 123 and 125 are connected to ether through a tube 130, which passes through compartment 124, and compartment 125 is adapted for connection with compartment 126 through port 131 controlled by a slide ,valve 132 with whichan outside actuating bar 133 is connected. Compartment 124 connects through port 134 with a channel frame 135, which connects with the lower one of the Compartments 123 and 124 are also adapted for communication through a port 136 which is controlled by a slide valve 137 pivoted at one end to the partition 1 20, and at its other end connecting with a post 138 which passes through the port 128 to engage the movable part of the bellows 129, a spring 139 engaging the valve as shown and tending to hold the bellows in distended position. The chamber 107 of the main valve box is connected by tube 140 with the wind chest.

Nhen the music is passed over the trackerboard in the forward direction, the valves in the valve box are caused to assume the position shown in Fig. 12, the motor being disconnected from direct communication with chamber 107 and the various action mechanism supporting tubes being connected with said chamber and consequently with the low pressure wind'chest. Thc'valve 132 is also movedto open port 131. The low pressure is then connected with the motor valve box through the lower supporting tube, port 134, compartment 124, port 136, com )artment port 128 and controlling bel ows 129, and also tube 130, compartment 125, port 131, compartment 126, pipe 127, pipe 118 and pipe 36 with the motor exhaust chamber. The regulating bellows 129 serves to maintain uniform or constant speed of the motor during a certain adjustment of valve 132 controlling ort 131. If the pedals are pumped harder or irregularly, the irregular suction caused on the regulating bellows will cause varying collapse thereof and a variation in the size of port opening 136 to thereby control the amount of exhaust driving the motor, this rinciple of control being old in the art. W ien it is desired to rewind the music sheet, greater speed and more power is desired for the motor. Consequently the main valve box is used to close port 112 and Closure of valve 113 disconresets the motor from the-e: haust supely hy way of the supply pipe'78 from chamberdifi, but the motor 18 directly connected withlthe exhaust through the opened port l ldfand consequently the speed or the IilOhOF-CELILLQ directly adjusted by the pumping action of the pedals.

In Figs. 18, 19,-and 20, the arrangemen of the controlling lever mechanism is shown. Extending across the'piano over the hey bed 47 is the hey pivot bar 141, on which are pivoted the various keys Zr-of the piano in the manner well known in the in the key slip 142 is cut an entrance slot and from the end of this slot guide pieces 144 and 145 extend rearwardly and over guidewavs 146 for the ends of" lever supporting plate 147. This plate is to the rear of the hey pivot bar and connected therewith by a spring 148 engaging posts 149 and 150, as shown. To the under side of the bar 147 are pivoted the adjusting levers 151, 152, 153 and The rear endoilever .151 is pivoted-to rod 116 connected with the controlling mechanism for the valves 111 and 113 in the main valve box. The rear end of lever 152 is connected with the controlling mechanism normally controlled by the soft pedal of the piano. Lever 153 is connected through rod 155 with the actuating plate 133 connecting with valve 132 which controls the operation of the motor and lover 15 1 connects with the mechanism normally operated by the loud pedal of the piano. Another strip 156 extends across the space below the bars 141 and 147 with its ends engaging the guide pieces 1 14 and 145. This strip .156 is coi'lnected with the bar 147 by connecting pieces 15? and 158 which engage the under side of the bar 147 and the upper side of the strip 156. llingcd to the strip 156 is a supporting shell 15.) having the upwardly extending part 160 for closing, the slot 143 out in the hey slip. Fig. 2) shows the normal, inoperative position of these various part The strip and shell 15%) are pushed in and held in position by trig;- ger 161 extending through and pivoted in the hey shelf as shown, its end engaging in slot 162 out in the lower face of the strip 156.

- The shelf member 159 is in position so that the extension 160-closes the opening 143 and so that theirent part of the shelf forms a. continuation of the front edge of the key bed. The bar 147 is carried a distance to the rear of the stationary hey ivot bar by the connecting pieces 157 an 158 when the shelf and strip parts are pushed in, the spring 148 being distended. 111 this position the ends 163 of the various lovers are in position over the sheltpa rt 159 and within the extension 160. By pushing the handle 164 of the tripper sidcwise, its end is disengaged from the slot 162 and strip 156 released whereupon spring 148 contracts and throws forwardly senses l l l l l l l i I l l l r l the bar 14-? and consequently throws forwardly shelf-and strip connected with the bar by the connecting-members. The ends of the levers then project outwardly beyond 19, so that they levers operated. the-shell 159 is the hey slip, as shown in Fig. can be readily engaged and The hanging edge 165 of beveled slightly, as shown, and the under" matic playing feature is not in use, the shelf is pushed back into the piano to be held in such nosition b r the tris er a-nd'the front of the piano w'll present its natural, unbroken appearance. A lid or cover having substantially the shape of the plate 7 can also be provided for replacing plate 7 when-the music roll cabinet is removed, the music shelf then havin its natural unbroken a h 1 7 pearance when the caomet is removed, tms

cover or lid serving also to protect the passageways through the plate 48 and the various pipes leading therefrom to the action mechanisms.

It can readily be seen that the automatic attachments which we have described are extremely simple in their construction, assembly and their relative arrangement, and also with respect to the piano casing with which they are associated. Only the-supportingtubes, valve boxes and pneumatic actions are actually within the piano casing, but these parts are placed in. the most out of the way corner. The valve boxes to which the pipes are secured are fastened to the sides of the piano casc'and the entire unitary structure compri ing the valve boxes, tubes, brackets and tracker strip can be easily pulled out from the front of the piano by m rely unfastening the valve boxes. Each tube with its pneun'iatic action mechanisms can also be independently withdrawn by disconnecting it l'rom the valve boxes and brackets. Inspection and repairs can thus be very quickly and accurately accomplished. The compact arrangement which consists of. having; the motor parts, music roll and tracker-board parts all within a common housing or cabinet is also a novel and very important feature, and more so the arrange ment of having: this cabinet disposed at the outside of the piano and, detachable. The feed bellows are usually the most bulky and cumbersome members in instruments of this kind, and it is very dillicult to place them Within the piano casing in a position where they will not interfere or be in the way of the piano parts. However, by placing them.

caannel cooperate =to low pressure source with the low pressure in said passage, a second valve box having Sonics with the motor through the direct p 8 111 an automatic playing piano having abstract rods, the combination of a plurality of tubes forming low pressure chambers, pneumatic action mechanisms supported from said tubes and having connection therewith and adapted for connection with the abstract rods, trackerboard mechanism for controlling the connection of the pneumatic action mechanisms with atmosphere, motor mechanism for driving music over the tracherboard mechanism, a source of 'low pressure, a valve box having valve mechan ism for controlling the connection of said tubes, a passage for connecting the low pressure source with the motor, regulating means valve mechanism for controlling such. passage, a passage leading directly to the motor, a valve in the first valve box controlling such direct passage, and means for causin actuation of the valve mechanisms in the first box to disconnect the lOW pressure tubes from the low pressure source and to connect said low pressure source directly with the motor through such direct passage.

9. In an automatic laying piano having abstract rods, the combination of the piano abstract rods a plurality of tubes forming low pressure chambers, pneumatic action mechanisms supported from said tubes and having connection therewith and adapted for connection with the abstract rods of the piano, trackerboard mechanism for controlling the connection of the pneumatic action mechanisms with atmosphere, motor mechanism for driving IIlUSlC sheets over the trackerboard mechanism, a source of low pressure, a valve box having valve mechanlsm for controlling the connection of said low pressure source with the low pressure tubes, a second valve box having valve mechanism for controlling the connection of said low pressure source with the motor, said low pressure tubes being supported at one end from the first valve box and at the other end from the second valve box, said valve boxes being secured to the piano frame.

10. In an automatic playing piano, the combination of the piano casing, a keyboard at the front of said casing, a shelf at the outside of said casing over the keyboard, the piano playing mechanism within the piano casing, pneumatic actuating mechanism Within the piano casing associated with the piano play mg mechanism, means 4 located within the casing for supplying power to the pneumatic actuating mechanism, a portable cabinet for resting on said shelf, music 'roll mechanism and tracker-board mechanism Within said cabinet, and means for connecting the parts within said cabinet with the pneumatm actuating mechanism within the piano casing when said cabinet is placed on said shelf, said cabinet with the. contained parts constituting a complete finished and independent structure which is. intended to be removed from the piano when the pneumatic playing mechanism is not desired to be used.

11. In an automatic playing piano, the combination of the piano casing, pneumatic playing mechanism within the casing, a keyboard at the front of the casing, a shelf formed by the piano casing at the outside thereof and above the keyboard, a portable cabinet set on said shelf and adapted to be lifted therefrom, controlling mechanism within said cabinet for controlling the operation of the pneumatic mechanism. within the cas ing, connecting terminals on said shelf connected with the pneumatic mechanisms Within the casing, and companion connectiiig terminals on said cabinet for engagement with the other terminals whereby the controlling parts Within the cabinet will be automatically connected with the pneumatic mechanism within' the casing when the cabinet is set on said shelf, saidcabinet and parts contained therein constituting an independent and finished structure which is intended to be removed from the piano when the pnepmatic playing mechanism is not to be use 12. In an-automatic playing piano, the

combination of the piano casing, pneumatic playing mechanism within the casing, a hori zontal supporting shelf supported by the casing, pneumatic connections from the pneumatic playing mechanism ,ternnnatmg in said shelf, a portable cabinet adapted to stand on said shelf over said terminals, controlling mechanism within said cabinet for controlling the operation of the pneumatic mechanism? pneumatic connections from said controlling mechanisms terminating in the base of said cabinet, said terminals of the pneumatic connections serving to pneumatically connect the controlling mechanisms With the pneumatic playing mechanism when said portable cabinet is set on said shelf, said cabinet constituting an independent complete structure intended to be applied to the piano only when the pneumatic playing mechanism is to be used.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this seventh day of November A. D., 1907.

Lnmnrmn M. rnnnon. WILLIAM M. onnmn.

Witnesses:

LEONARD W. NovAnnER, E. F. WAITE. 

